Surveyor 's rod and magnetic locator

Abstract

This invention is a universal and configurable land surveying and mapping tool. This invention combines several functions into one tool and is unique because of its one tool that provides the ability to perform a plurality of surveying task including metal detection and determining location data (i.e. GPS data).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions, said configurable apparatus comprising:
 a rod portion that is at least partially hollow defining a first end and a an opposing second end wherein said first end defines a pointed magnetic interface and said opposing second end defines a rod-to-accessory interface configure for receiving any one of a plurality of rod accessories including (a) a magnetic sensor controller, (b) a GPS device, and (c) a prism device; 
 a magnetic sensor disposed within said rod portion wherein said magnetic sensor is suitably configure for detecting a metallic object; 
 a magnetic sensor controller defining an electronics housing disposed between a controller first end and a controller second end wherein said controller first end defines a controller-interface and said controller second end defines a controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said controller-interface is configured for being mechanically associated with said rod-to-accessory interface and wherein said magnetic sensor controller is configured for controlling said magnetic sensor; and 
 at least one a rod accessory selected from one of (a) a GPS device defining a first GPS end and an opposing second GPS end wherein said first GPS end defines a GPS-interface and said second GPS end defines a GPS-to-accessory interface wherein said GPS device is configured to generate location data; and (b) prism device defining a prism-interface configured for being mechanically associated with one of (i) said rod-to-accessory interface, (ii) said controller-to-accessory interface, and (iii) said GPS-to-accessory interface. 
 
     
     
       2. A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in  claim 1 , wherein said rod portion defines a telescopic rod. 
     
     
       3. A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in  claim 1 , comprising both a GPS device and a prism device and wherein said GPS-interface is mechanically associated with said controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said prism-interface is mechanically GPS-to-accessory interface. 
     
     
       4. A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic sensor controller generates sound indicating a metallic object has been detected and wherein said magnetic sensor controller further comprises a volume control feature. 
     
     
       5. A configurable surveying apparatus, said configurable apparatus comprising:
 a rod portion that is at least partially hollow defining a first end and a an opposing second end wherein said first end defines a pointed magnetic interface and said opposing second end defines a rod-to-accessory interface configure for receiving any one of a plurality of rod accessories including (a) a magnetic sensor controller, (b) a GPS device, and (c) a prism device; 
 a magnetic sensor disposed within said rod portion wherein said magnetic sensor is suitably configure for detecting a metallic object; 
 a magnetic sensor controller defining an electronics housing disposed between a controller first end and a controller second end wherein said controller first end defines a controller-interface and said controller second end defines a controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said controller-interface is configured for being mechanically associated with said rod-to-accessory interface and wherein said magnetic sensor controller is configured for controlling said magnetic sensor; 
 a GPS device defining a first GPS end and an opposing second GPS end wherein said first GPS end defines a GPS-interface and said second GPS end defines a GPS-to-accessory interface wherein said GPS device is configured to generate location data and wherein said GPS-interface is releaseably associated with said controller-to-accessory; 
 a prism device defining a prism-interface configured for being releaseably associated with one of (i) said rod-to-accessory interface, (ii) said controller-to-accessory interface, and (iii) said GPS-to-accessory interface; and 
 wherein said rod portion defines a telescopic rod. 
 
     
     
       6. A configurable surveying apparatus as in  claim 5 , comprising both a GPS device and a prism device and wherein said GPS-interface is mechanically associated with said controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said prism-interface is mechanically GPS-to-accessory interface. 
     
     
       7. A configurable surveying apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic sensor controller generates sound indicating a metallic object has been detected and wherein said magnetic sensor controller further comprises a volume control feature.